1167 Mister White
Although the shadow of this woman was not powerful enough to cause an outcry of wrath, Arthur could feel her yearning love for him. The feelings touched his heart, making him smile in bittersweet sadness.
"You should be proud of such a love because it has transcended death. I know this sounds absurd, but I can see her looking after you from the afterlife," said Arthur to the bartender. In response, Joe was first confused, then relieved, and then closed his eyes.
"Thank you, sir," said the bartender before he sat back again. "Let"s finish our tea so that we can begin working on a trip to Yalen and learn more about the extremist who appeared in Kera."
"We can go straight to the…" said Arthur as he did not wish to waste more time, but his two companions pulled a table and sat down. Before he could react to their synchronized movements, Sarohan pushed his cup forward.
"Another one, please," said the Waiga as he took out some Mellows that Henry gave them. "This will go well with the tea."
As he stood stunned for words, Arthur watched the bartender look at them with surprise and laugh. Then, he poured each of them another cup, and then one for himself.
"…am I just going to stand here?" thought Arthur to himself before laughing and going to sit with the three. However, as he sat down, he smiled and whispered something to the two, making them tremble with fear. Joe did not hear a thing and poured him a cup as well. Then, the two men drank their tea while the two outlanders realized that they were going to be in deep trouble when they go back to Runera.
After a small tea break, the four of them left Joe"s residence wearing new clothes he provided. Arthur and Koby, although the latter lacked an arm, had no problem fitting with the rest of Kera. However, Sarohan stood out like a sore thumb with his thick fur and long stature.
"I"ve seen you standing behind Arthur in the broadcast," said Joe after the revelation of Sarohan"s appearance. "It is the first time I see a true humanoid creature other than humans themselves."
"I am not a humanoid creature but a proud member of the Waiga race," said Sarohan as he pounded his chest. "In my world, the other races would fawn over me because of our powers and intelligence."
"Then you should have stayed there," said Koby with a smirk, but the Waiga ignored his comment. Instead, he looked through Joe"s wardrobe before pulling out a pair of giant protective gla.s.ses and strapping them to his face.
The gla.s.ses covered his eyes and ears, revealing only his mouth and nose. Sarohan posed a little, and Arthur was actually convinced he was just a tall dude with a white beard. It can"t be the strangest thing that people have seen, right?
The smugglers that would get them to Yalen without being seen were numerous in Kera, since the city has lost a lot of its knights. This also made it easier for Arthur and co to blend into the crowd and avoid attention.
"I think that Runera has the necessary artifacts to teleport you straight to Yalen, right?" asked Joe on the way. "What made you seek a low profile approach this time, sir?"
"Never hurts to be cautious," said Arthur with a smile. "I know that the entire world is against me, and I don"t plan on giving them any chance to hurt me. I want them to believe I am still in Runera, the invincible fortress."
"Is there someone that you need to be cautious about?" asked Joe as he pa.s.sed some vendors who tried to sell him their merchandise.
"In this life, no," said Arthur with absolute confidence, enough to send a chill down the three"s spine. "However, I cannot endanger the people following me just because I know I would never lose. Runera must be kept safe while I am gone, and that is through the illusion that I am not."
Joe nodded at his answer before jumping to a hidden alley, and the three followed. After sneaking into a lot of restricted areas and sewage systems, the bartender led them to a small camp on the periphery of the city.
Crooks sat around this camp like flies, eyeing the four with greed and hostility. Arthur and the rest walked with such confidence that no one dared to hinder their way until Joe led them to a small tent in the camp.
This tent was the cleanest in the camp, and it was the widest on first glance. Standing outside it were two guards, each ripped with muscles, preventing anyone from going inside. But when they saw Joe, the two of them looked both surprised and ecstatic.
"Little J, is that you?" asked one of the two men as he unfolded his arms, each as wide as a man. "It has been so long since you came here that I don"t recognize you! You are a full-blown adult now, huh?"
"Always have been, QQ," said Joe with a smile as he stopped in front of the tent. "Is the old man here? I have a favor to ask him."
"You think that the boss is just someone you can barge into, you little s.h.i.t?" asked the other guard, who looked less friendly than the other. "You turned your back on the gang because of that wh.o.r.e. Don"t think that I would…"
Whoosh!
Bang!
The man was still talking when Joe rushed forward, filled with rage, before smashing his fist to the man"s chin. Despite the difference in their height, the fist landed right underneath the man"s chin, knocking him out instantly.
Boom!
The small giant slammed to the ground, alarming the entire camp. Everyone raised their weapons at them, prepared for a fight. Sarohan was already brandishing his sword, and Koby"s empty sleeve began to flutter.
"No one moves."
A voice broke the rising tension in the crowd, slicing it in half. It was deep, commanding, and did not accept an ounce of rejection. Before the crowd could find the source, everyone froze in place.
"You brought this upon yourself, little guy," said Arthur as he continued, staring at the giant that has fallen on the ground. His golden eyes shone with wrath beneath the hood. "If our friend did not knock you down, you would have died three times already."
As the muscular man held his destabilized chin, he stared at the three companions that Joe has brought. After seeing their eyes for just a second, he realized that the punch has indeed saved him.
The entire camp felt shivers down their spines as they stared at the hooded man with golden eyes. With just a few words, he grasped the situation inside the camp with ease, forcing these crooks to submit.
"Who dares cause a ruckus during my nap?" asked a gruff voice from inside the tent as a man stepped out. The first thing one would notice about this man is his flawless clothes. The old man wore a black suit with a blue tie that had not a single crease on it. "Who are you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds?"
"You forgot who I am already?" asked Joe as he shook his fist from the pain. "We should put you in a retirement home already, Mister White."
"It seems that someone disturbed the sewages, bringing out the rats," said Mister White as he looked at Joe while adjusting his suit. "You know what"s the punishment for attacking our gang, right?"
"Tee insulted Elise," said QQ in an attempt to explain. "If Joe didn"t punch him, I would"ve knocked him out myself. You know that he"s an idiot."
Mister White listened to his words for a second and frowned, before turning toward Tee on the ground. The muscular man was still holding his jaw when his boss looked down at him, making him flinch. After a moment of glaring at him, Mister White clicked his tongue.
"If I didn"t know how loyal you are, I would"ve cut your tongue, Tee," said Mister White to the man, making him shiver. "Help this idiot stand and take him away. As for you four rats, come into my tent. I hate this f.u.c.king sun."
Mister White waved his hand to Arthur and the rest before walking into the tent. Except for Joe, who nodded at them and followed after him, the three were confused. The sky was as cloudy as it could be, but the old man said he hated the sun.
Arthur and the rest entered the tent, and were immediately stomped for words. The interior was a luxurious mansion, not a shabby tent as one would expect. It seems that Mister White has used some spatial runes to expand the interior and decorate it as he wished.
"You better have a good reason for interrupting my nap, stinky brat," said Mister White as he walked toward a leather chair and sat down. "What brought you to me after this long? How did you even find me?"
"I know what you do at these times, so all I had to do was ask around about crooks appearing in this place," said Joe as he guided Arthur and the rest to sit on the couch. "I came here to introduce the man I now work for."
"Have you decided to forsake your life, Joe?" asked Mister White with a frown, his white eyebrows contorting his bald head. "You came here and brought that man who s.n.a.t.c.hed you away from me? Is it this bearded b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"